Voting machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Pg. 2. fl 68 J. M. GARR VOTING MACHINE Filed May 3,1950 April 11, 1933.

HIS ATTORNEY L; .W L 5. @Am

WITNEsSE" April 11, 1933. J R 1,903,544

VOTING MACHINE Filed May 3, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a/sgv/p/M 6 027."

INVENTOR HIS ATTORNEY 6' :52 wwwassM a 2444' $0M Patented Apr. 11, 1933UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEV' JOSEPH M. GARR, OF CALUiMIET CITY,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO PEOPLES VOTING MACHINE CORPORATION, OF KNOX,INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA VOTING MACHINE Application filed May3, 1930. Serial No. 449,624.

This invention relates to certain-novel improvements in voting machinesand has for its principal object the provision of an improvedconstruction of this character which will be highly efiicient in use andeconomical in manufacture.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a counting mechanismembodied in the invention.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a counting mechanismwhich will facilitate registering votes on a voting machine and whichwill render it impossible for the voter to register a vote on thecounting mechanism while he is in the voting booth.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a countingmechanism which will enable the voter, while in the voting booth, tomove any voting button into and out of voted position any number oftimes without recording the vote.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a countingmechanism which will be operable by a mechanism associated with the exitgate of the voting booth and which will record the voters final choiceonly when he is leaving the voting booth.

A still further object of my invention is so the provision of a countingmechanism which may be conveniently adjusted for voting and which can bereturned to zero position after the recorded votes are counted withoutdismantling the counting mechanism.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a countingmechanism for a voting machine which will enable the machine embodyingmy invention to comply with "the various legal requirements demended ofvoting machines by various states and other political divisions.

ther objectswill appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, showing the preferred, form of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational front view of one unit of myinvention mounted on a votingmachine;

Fig. 2 is a top view taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational rear View of the panel of a votingmachine showing the parts of my invention associated therewith; l

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary elevational front view showing parts of thecounting'mecha- 6o nism in position before voting with the counters setat zero; I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational front view of'themechanismillustrated in Fig. 4 showing parts of the counting mechanismin as voted position but before the vote is counted;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational front view showing the countingmechanism illus trated in Figs. 4 and 5 when the voting button indicatoris being returned to vertical position uncounted from the position shownin Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational front view partly similar to Fig. 5with parts of I the counting mechanism in different positions; and IFig. 8 is an elevational front view of the counting gears with the dialsremoved.

The voting machine embodying my invention preferably comprises a cabinet10 within which are arranged the mechanisms to be described presently.This cabinet may be made of any suitable material and design to supporta panel 11. As shown in Fig. 1 this panel 11 embodies on the frontthereof 8 a plurality of voting buttons to be described presently. Thesebuttons, as shown, are arranged in horizontal and in vertical rows andeach button operates the count mechanism embodying my invention. Itwill, therefore, be understood that the'description to follow is ingeneral directed to one unit of the counting mechanism which is operatedby one button. It is also to be understood that while in Fig. 1 I haveshown only three horizontal rows and two vertical rows of buttons thisnumber can be varied within a wide range since my invention is ingeneral associated with each individual button.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 it 1 0 will be seen that thereis provided on the front of the panel 11 a plurality of voting buttons'12. These buttons 12 are rotatably secured to the plate 13 of thehousing 14 by means of suitable screws 15 and these buttons carry anindicator 16. Integral with each of the indicators 16 is an arm 51 whichis operable by the voting button 12 and attached indicator 16 and thisarm moves in suitable slots 61' formed in the face plate 13 of thehousing 14. Thefront plate 13 of the housing 14 is secured to thehousing proper by means of screws 17 threaded into threaded openings inthe. back wall of the housing and the housing 14 is secured to the panel11 by means of metallic screws 18. The screws 18 project throughsuitable spacers'35 which space the housing 14 from the panel 11. Formedin the side portions of the housing 14 are shoulders 29 and theseshoulders 29 with projecting portions of theiface plates 13 define slots31 in which ballot tickets 32 are slidably mounted op-' posite eachvoting button.

Mounted on the panel 11 in aligned relationship and projecting outwardlyfrom the face thereof are studs 19, 20 and 21 which have shoulderportions 43', and mounted slidably' and rotatably onthese studs, anddisposed outwardly fromqthc face of the panel "11,; are countersgenerically indicated at 22,

23, and 24-T whic-h include numeral; dials 26, 27 and 28 and which areadapted to count in units, tens and-hundreds, respectively, and theconstruction of which will now be eX- p-lained: The counter; 22 includesa substantially cylindrical body portion 37 and this body portionhas asubstantially cylindrical opening 75 extending therethrough.Thisrelationship forwardly of the tongue portion 40 on the cylindricalportion 39-. Disposed on the-"shaft portion 36 forwardly of the washer41 is a numeral dial 26 which has the numerals zero to nine, inclusive,formed in the facethe-reof in; any approved manner such as by means ofnumeralsraised from the body portion of the dial, these numeralsbeing-arranged in increasing order counterclockwise, and this dial-26 isretained in position on thesha'ft portion 36 in any suitable mannersuch. as by wedging'engagement.

' Disposed between the housings 14 and slidable vertically inwardly ofthe shoulder portions 29' thereof are plates 34 which have alignedopenings 33 formed therein and these plates 34 are adapted to encloseand conceal the counters and included numeral dials exposing to Viewthrough openings 33 only the numeral in topmost position on each dial.

The counter 23 includes a centrally disposed tubular shaft portion 44andmounte'd on the rear portion of the shaft 44 in any suitable manner,such as by wedging engagement,'is a substantially cylindrical portion 45which has a notch 46 formed therein. Disposed on the shaft portion 44,forwardly of the cylindrical portion 45, is a substantially cylindricalportion 47 which has a-tongue 48 integral therewith and projectinglaterally therefrom. Mounted on the shaft portion 44 and disposedforwardly of'this cylindrical portion 47 is a gear 49 which has teeth 50formed therein. Mounted on the shaft portion 44 of counter 23, forwardlyofthe gear portion 49 thereon is a disc 52 which has an arcuated rimportion forming spurs 53, and

disposed in front of this disc 52 is a numeral dial 27 which issubstantially similar in construction to dial 26 but has the numeralsthere- .onarranged in increasing order clockwise.

As will be explained hereinafter, this dial 27 registers the vote countin tens.

Counter 24 includes a substantially cylindri'cal body portion 59 whichhas a cylindrical opening 72 extending therethrough and this bodyportion 59 terminates rearwardly in a constricted shaft portion. Mountedon i this constricted shaft portion at the rear thereof, in any suitablemanner, such as by wedging engagement, is a disc 55 having an arcuatedrim portion forming spurs 60.

Formed in the disc 55 is a notch 56, and projecting rearwardly from thebody portion of the disc 55, and disposed opposite the notch 56, is atongue 73. Mounted in any suitable mannersuch as by wedging engagementon V the constricted portion of the body portion 59 forwardly of thedisc 55 is a gear 57 which has teeth 58- formed circumferentiallythereon, that one of these teeth 58 which is disposed in alignment withand forwardly of the tongue 73 being cut away even with the portion ofthe disc 55 defining the rear portion of the notch 56. Mounted on thebody portion 59 of the counter 24, forwardly of the gear 57 is thenumeral dial 28 which is so,

cured to the body portion 59 in any suitable manner suchas by wedgingengagement as indicated at 54. As shown in Fig. 2 the numerals formed onthis dial are arranged in increasing order ina counterclockwisedirection and in use this counter is, adapted for counting in hundreds.

Mounted in the panel 11 and projecting from the face thereof is a stud62and mounted movably on this stud 62 is a dog 63 which has formedtherein a tongue portion 63 and an arm portion 65. Secured to the dog 63in the notch 68 formed therein in any suitable manner, such as bywedging engagement between the shoulder 74 of the dog and the arm 65thereof, is a fiat spring 66 which has an angularly formed end portion67 at one end thereof.

Supported movably on the shoulder 43 of the stud 20 is a dog 69 whichhas an arm portion 70 formed therein and this arm portion 70 has a notch71 formed therein.

Mounted in the panel 11 and projecting outwardly from the face thereofis a stud 75 and mounted rotatably on this stud is a pawl 76. Formed inthe panel 11 are substantially rec-, tangular slots 77 and adapted to beslidable horizontally in these slots is a sliding bar 78 which has endportions 81 formed annularly therein and these end portions 81 areadapted to be slidable in slots 77. Integral with the bar 78 andprojecting rearwardly therefrom and slidable laterally with the bar 78in a suitable slot 79 formed in the panel 11 is a pin 80 which isadapted for moving horizontally an interlocking strap as described inthe applicants copending applications Ser. No. 449,295 and 449,296,filed on or about May 2, 1930.

Operable in the manner presently to be described is a pawl 82 which hasan angularly formed end portion 83 at one end thereof and this endportion 83 is adapted to be slidable laterally in a suitable slot 84formed in the panel 11.

Supported on the panel 11 at the rear thereof is an arm 85 which hassuitable slots 86 formed therein. Projecting through these slots 86 andmounted in the panel 11 are suitable screws 87 and arm 85 is adapted tobe slidable horizontally on these screws 87 by means of manual forceexerted laterally on a knob 105 which is attached to arm 85 by means ofa suitable connecting element such as screw 106. Mounted in the panel 11and projecting rearwardly therefrom are suitable screws 88 and thesescrews 88 project through slots 89 in a vertically extending bar 90which is adapted to be slidable vertically inwardly of the arm 85 in amanner now to be described: Mounted in the bar 90 adjacent the topthereof and projecting rearw'ardly therefrom is a stud 91. Formed in thearm 85 is,

a slot 92. Arm 85 is moved laterally by means of knob 105 and when thisarm is moved leftwardly as shown in Fig. 3 it will be seen that stud 91on bar 90 will be moved upwardly in slot 92, in this manner lifting bar90 which is prevented from lateral movement by screws 88 which guide bar90 in the slots 89 formed therein. Mounted in bar 90 and projectingtherefrom through a suitable slot 98 in the panel 11 are pins 94 and 95and it will be seen that when bar 90 is moved in the manner describedabove pins 94 and 95 will likewise be moved for a purpose to beexplained presently.

Mounted in the panel 11 and projecting rearwardly therefrom are screws96 which project through suitable slots 98 in arms 97 and these arms 97are adapted to be slidab-le laterally on the screws 96 by means of amechanism constituting a part of the applicants copending applicationSer. N 0. 465,671, filed on or about July 3, 1930. Supported in verticalposition on the arms 97 by means of suitab e connecting elements such asstuds and movable laterally with the arms 97 are bars 99, the functionof which will be explained presently.

In Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 a button 12 has been shown in dotted outline butit is tobe understood that this button is disposed at the face of thepanel 11 and in these front views the button shown in dotted outline hasbeen removed to show the operating mechanisms disposed inwardly thereofand these buttons shown in dotted outline are shown for the purposes ofillustration.

In preparing the voting machine embodying my invention for use and inorder to set the counters in zero position, the proper election officialmoves arm 85 leftwardly at the rear of the panel by means of knob thusraising bar 90 into the position shown in Fig. 7 with pin 94 on bar 99abutting the arm 65 of the dog 63 thus releasing the tongue 64 of thedog 63 from the teeth 38 of counter Releasing the tongue 64 on dog 63from the teeth 38 of gear 37 in counter 22 allows counter 22 to berotated in either direction and the rotation of counter 22 will rotatecounter 23, the tongue 40 of counter 22 engaging once in everyrevolution the teeth 50 in counter 23 in the manner shown in Fig. 8 andin this rotation of counter 23 when the tongue 40 of counter 22 is inengagement with the gear teeth 50 of counter 23 the particular spurtooth 53 on counter 23 that happens to be disposed opposite tongue 40 oncounter 22 will project into the notch 42 of counter 22 allowing thesetwo counters to pass. In a similar manner the particular spur tooth 60on disc 55 of counter 24 that happens to be disposed opposite tongue 48when tongue 48 is in engagement with teeth 58 will. project into slot 46in counter 23 and thus allow counter 23 to pass counter 24 in this-position but in no other position. This rota tion of counter 23likewise rotates counter 24, the tongue 48 on counter 23 engaging oncein each revolution the teeth 58 in counter on in position to appearthrough the proper opening'33 in plate 32 and in thisposition counter 24cannot 'be moveduntil the proper election ofiicial so desires. At thetime counter 24 moves into locked zero position as explained above thetongue 48 on counter 23 extends horizontally, as in Fig. 8, and is theninlocked engagement between two teeth 58 on counter 24. At this time thetongue 40 on counter 22 also extends horizontally and is in lockedengagement between two teeth on counter 23, as in Fig. 8, and when thecounters are thus interlocked, as in Fig. 8, no one of the threecounters can be rotated in either direction until the tongue 7 3 oncounter 24 is released from engagement with notch 71 of dog 61.

When the proper election official desires to release the counters fromlocked position as explained above, arm is moved laterallyto the right,looking toward the rear of the panel 11, (Fig. 3) by means of the knob105 and this lateral movement of arm 85 lowers pin 91 in slot 92 and thelowering, of pin 91 likewise lowers bar attached thereto. When bar 90 islowered attached pins 94 and95 are also lowered, pin 94 releasing thearm 65 of dog 63 from abutting engagement with spring 66 which urges thedog 63, counterclockwise Fig. 8, while pin 95 during this downwardmovement of bar 90 engages dog 69 and pivots the same counterclockwise(Fig. 6), thus moving the notched portion 71'of dog 69 out of engagementwith the tongue 73 on counter 24 there-. by releasing. the counter 24.so that counter.

24 is then-in movable position for recording votes, with the zeronumerals on the dials 26, 2'7 and 28 visible through the openings 33 inplate 32. I

When the counters are set at Zero and counter 24 is released forcounting movement as explained above, and the voting button 12associated with the counters is 1n position ready for voting with itsattached indicator 16 in upright position, the head portion of the pawl82 is disposed between the arms 101 and 102 of the pawl 76 and'theangled end portion 83 of the pawl 82 is disposed at the right hand endof its slot 84. When the voter moves the button 12 and attachedindicator 16 into position as shown in Fig. 5, the voter thus havingindicated his choice, the pawl 76 is rotated leftwardly on its stud 75by means of the upwardmovement of arm 51 which is integral with theindicator 16, arm 51 moving in its-slot 61, and in this leftwardrotation of the pawl 7 6 the arm portion 101 thereof engages the headportion 100 of the pawl 82 moving the pawl leftwardly, the

angled end portion 83 of the pawl being guided in its slot 84, and asseen in Fig. 5 the shoulder portion 103 of the pawl is then disposedleftwardly of the teeth 38 of gear 37 in counter 22, the body portion ofthe pawl vote thus indicated, he may rotate indicator 16 upwardly bymeans of attached button 12 and cancel his vote, and as shown in Fig.6,in this upward rotation of the indicator 16 and pawl 76 movabletherewith, the arm 102 of the pawl 76 engages the shoulder portion 104of the pawl 82 and merely lifts the'pawl upwardly without moving-it tothe right, and in this manner the shoulder portion 103 of the pawl isnot brought into engagement with the teeth 38 of gear 37 in counter 22and the cancelled vote is not counted. It will be seen, therefore, thatthe voter may cancel a vote any number of times before making his finalchoice, the final choice being recorded in the counting mechanism in themanner now to be described: VVhen't-he voter has made his final choiceand the several parts of the counting mechanism are in the positionshown in Fig. 5, a mechanism constituting a part of the exit gate andoperated by the voter on leaving thevoting booth, this mechanismconstituting a part of the applicants copending application Ser. No.465,671, filed on or about July 3, 1930, moves arm97 laterally and'thislateral movement of arm 97 moves bar 99 into abutting engagement withthe angled end portion 83 of pawl 82 and as bar 99' is moved to theright, looking from the front of the panel 11, it moves the pawl 82 intothe position shown in Fig.4, and in this movement ofthe pawl 82 theshoulder portion 7 103 thereof engages the teeth 38 on'gear 37 incounter 22 and counter 22 is movedclockwise and thus registers the vote.

It is apparent that the rotation of. counter 22 being clockwise therotation of counter 23 will be counterclockwise while-counter 24 will inturn rotate in a clockwise direction. .It

will likewise be seen that counter 22 will make 10 revolutions for eachrevolution of counter 23, and counter 23 will accordingly make tenrevolutions for each revolution of counter 24, these counters countingthe votes in termsof units, tens, and hundreds, respectively. It

will be apparent, therefore, that when the counters have registered ninehundred ninety-nine votes one more vote will throw the counters intozero position.

Thentheproper election official has re corded thevote as s'hownthroughthe openin 's 33 late 32 ma be readil removed a 7 P y 3 the operatingparts thereof that are'disposed at the rear of the panel 11 are lockedin the housing by a mechanism constituting a part of the applicantsco-pendin application Ser. No. 465,671, filed on or a bout July 3, 1930,it is apparent that only persons properly authorized to do so can in anyway manipulate these parts.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be seen that Ihave provided 10 a counting mechanism of improved construction whichwill be conveniently adjustable and fraud proof in use while beingeflicient in use and economical in manufacture. It will likewise be seenfrom the foregoing de 15 soription of the invention that a voting machine embodying the invention will be enabled to meet the variousrequirements of the different states and other political divisionsconcerning voting machines.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification, without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I,

therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variationsand modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a voting machine registering mechanism, intermeshing countingunits, tens and hundreds gears, a ratchet rotatable with the units gear,a tongue projecting from the hundreds gear, a pivotal spring-urgedlatching dog for the units gear and a pivotal latching dog for thehundreds gear, the latching dog for the hundreds gear being providedwith a notch for the reception of said tongue, a slidable member, andspaced elements on said slidable member engageable with and for pivotingsaid dogs.

2. In a voting machine registering mechanism, intermeshing countingunits, tens and hundreds gears, a tongue prQ ecting from the hundredsgear, a ratchet rotatable with the units gear, a pivotal latching dogfor the 5 units gear and a pivotal latching dog for the hundreds gear,the latching dog for the hundreds gear being provided with a notch inwhich said tongue is adapted to be disposed, a spring between said dogsurging the 5 units gear dog into latching engagement with said ratchet,a slidable member, and a pair of spaced elements on said slidable memberengageable with and for pivoting said dogs.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH M. GARE.

